David D'Alessio chosen to be chief of Division of Endocrinology

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Mary Klotman, MD, chair of the Department of Medicine, announced today that David D’Alessio, MD, has agreed to be the Chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Nutrition, effective November 26, 2013. (He will begin full time in April 2014.)

Currently, Dr. D'Alessio is Professor of Medicine and the Albert Vontz Chair for Diabetes Research at the University of Cincinnati, where he also serves as Director of the Division of Endocrinology. Additionally, he is Chief of the Endocrine Service at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center.

"Over the last year, the Department of Medicine conducted a comprehensive national search for a new chief of the Division, and David emerged as a top candidate," said Dr. Klotman. "He will bring to Duke an exciting plan for expanding the clinical and research activities of the Division and a vision for coordinating that growth with the School of Medicine and Duke University Health System strategic plans."

[caption id="attachment_13939" align="alignright" width="300"] Mary Klotman, chair of the Department of Medicine, welcomes David D'Alessio, the newly announced chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Nutrition, as Chris Newgard looks on.[/caption]

A highly respected clinician and physician scientist, D'Alessio maintains an active research portfolio, exploring the regulation of insulin secretion and glucose tolerance in type 2 diabetes, with a focus on the influence of intestinal hormones on these processes and an overall goal to apply this knowledge to the treatment of diabetes and obesity. He will work closely with Chris Newgard, Ph.D. and the newly formed Duke Institute of Molecular Physiology, where D'Alessio will be associate director.

D'Alessio earned his medical degree from the University of Wisconsin and completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Temple University. He also completed a research fellowship in Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition at the University of Washington. He is a member of the Endocrine Society, American Diabetes Association and American Heart Association, and he serves on the national council for the American Federation for Medical Research.

D'Alessio succeeds Mark Feinglos, MD, who has served as chief of the Division since 2000. Dr. Feinglos will stay in the division to continue his research and care for patients, as well as continue to serve as the principal investigator of the Endocrinology Fellowship Training Grant.

Klotman extended a special thanks to Dr. Newgard and the other members of the search committee, for their time and effort in this very important process.